Dihydromyricetin for the Treatment of Memory Loss

Memory problems are a common challenge for many adults. It can involve a temporary, short-term memory loss, a decline in mental abilities, or a more serious problem involving important functions of the brain. There are many reasons why a person may become forgetful and the treatment for these problems may vary according to their causes.

What Causes Memory Loss?

People are often disturbed when they forget things, like where they placed their keys, or miss a dental appointment. It makes them wonder if it is just part of the normal aging process, or if it is an early symptom of a brain disorder such as Alzheimer's disease. We have also heard about dementia, a term which is commonly used to refer to memory loss associated with impairment of other mental abilities.

In reality, there is a wide spectrum of conditions that may involve a decline in memory, although not all of them point to dementia. For instance, a mild decline in memory may be related to aging, where people experience slower mental processing of information and forgetfulness due to a gradual loss of neurons (brain cells). However, this type of memory loss does not significantly affect one's daily functions. This type of memory change is generally manageable and does disrupt one's ability to live independently, work, or maintain relationships. 

Some people, however, may develop memory problems and cognitive impairments that are not related to normal aging, but are not as severe as dementia. This is often considered as mild cognitive impairment, which may or may not lead to dementia. A state of depression may also involve some forgetfulness, slowness in thinking and confusion.

Other possible causes of transient memory loss include brain trauma, medications (such as antidepressants and sleeping pills), excessive alcohol drinking, chronic sleep loss, and nutritional deficiencies. Brain damage due to illnesses such as stroke can also cause memory loss, which may improve when adequately treated.

Dementia is a condition that encompasses many disorders. It describes a group of symptoms that leads to progressive impairment of mental functioning, which significantly interferes with one's daily activities as well as social function. Aside from memory loss, people with dementia also experience inability to solve daily problems, make reasonable judgments, and control their emotions. They may experience confusion, agitation, and hallucinations, and they may be observed to have personality changes.

Many conditions may cause dementia, but the most common cause is Alzheimer's disease, which often afflicts elderly individuals. It affects up to four million Americans, and nearly half of all people over the age of 85 are diagnosed with the disease. A few younger people, who are believed to have a genetic defect, have also been diagnosed to have Alzheimer's disease. 

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia that involves long-term memory loss and decline in other mental functions. The exact cause is still unknown, but current research suggests that plaque formation and death of brain cells are responsible for the disease. Defects in the transmission of messages through the brain synapses (the junction where nerve impulses pass) are also believed to cause the disruption of brain functions associated with Alzheimer's disease. Gephyrin, a special protein that plays a significant role in these synapses, has been found to be depleted in the brains of experimental animals with neurodegenerative disease. Imbalance in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and other proteins such as gephyrin cause disruptions in neurotransmission in the synapses, leading to degeneration of brain function.

Can Memory Loss Be Prevented?

Research shows that memory loss can be delayed or prevented by a number of factors. There is evidence that suggests that people who maintain normal blood sugar levels score better on mental function tests than people who have poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Certain activities also lower one's risk of developing dementia, such as regular exercise, playing musical instruments, playing chess, doing crossword puzzles, or maintaining social interactions. Other factors that help prevent memory loss include better education, low cholesterol levels, low homocysteine levels, controlled blood pressure levels, use of NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and controlled inflammation.

Treatment of Memory Loss

The treatment for loss of memory depends mainly on the cause, which in most cases, is reversible. Transient memory loss associated with nutritional deficiency or drug side effects may be reversed by taking nutritional supplements and avoiding the offending drugs, respectively. Other organic causes such as stroke or Alzheimer's disease need specific treatments to improve brain function. Current medications used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include cholinesterase inhibitors likeAricept, Exelon, and Razadyne, which aim to balance the brain chemicals and improve its function. Another drug called namenda regulates the activity of another brain chemical, thus playing a protective role in the brain.

Recent research shows, however, that another substance called dihydromyricetin (DHM), also known as ampelopsin (AMP), may be used to treat memory problems, including dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. This flavanoid compound is purified from a variety of botanical sources, including the oriental raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis), Chinese Senega (Polygala tenuifolia), and the snake wine vine (Ampelopsis Grossedentata). It is a component of ancient Chinese herbal remedies, which have been used in Asia for centuries. The active ingredient, DHM, has been recently isolated and shown to be responsible for the bio-active properties of these herbal remedies.

DHM has recently been patented under the trade name Smarto-One and is believed to help prevent memory loss by restoring gephyrin levels, thus reestablishing synaptic neuron networks. It is also believed to clean up excessive amyloid-β peptides, which are associated with plaque build-up in the brain. As the result, Smarto-ONE restores memory function and improves learning ability. DHM is also known to have antioxidant and anti-aging effects, which help reduce stress, improve sleep, and relieve alcoholic hang-overs.

References:

MedicineNet. Dementia Pictures Slideshow: Disorders of the Brain. http://www.medicinenet.com/dementia_pictures_slideshow/article.htm.
WebMD. Loss. http://www.webmd.com/brain/memory-loss.

Mayo Clinic. Memory loss: When to seek help.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/memory-loss/ART-20046326?pg=1.
BioPortfolio. Abnormal Gephyrin Immunoreactivity Associated With Alzheimer Disease Pathologic Changes. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology.
Tretter, V et al. Gephyrin, the enigmatic organizer at GABAergic synapses. Front. Cell. Neurosci., 14 May 2012 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2012.00023. http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2012.00023/full
PatentScope. Dihydromyricetin For The Treatment Of Diseases And Disorders Of The Glutamatergic System. http://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2014007853&recNum=293&docAn=US2013030400&queryString=a61k&maxRec=201668